Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happydisposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearlytwenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.She was the youngest of the two daughters of a most affectionate, indulgent father; andhad, in consequence of her sister's marriage, been mistress of his house from a very earlyperiod.

Her mother had died too long ago for her to have more than an indistinctremembrance of her caresses; and her place had been supplied by an excellent woman asgoverness, who had fallen little short of a mother in affection.Sixteen years had Miss Taylor been in Mr. Woodhouse's family, less as a governess than afriend, very fond of both daughters, but particularly of Emma.

Between them it was morethe intimacy of sisters. Even before Miss Taylor had ceased to hold the nominal office ofgoverness, the mildness of her temper had hardly allowed her to impose any restraint; andthe shadow of authority being now long passed away, they had been living together asfriend and friend very mutually attached, and Emma doing just what she liked; highlyesteeming Miss Taylor's judgment, but directed chiefly by her own.The real evils, indeed, of Emma's situation were the power of having rather too much herown way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself; these were the disadvantageswhich threatened alloy to her many enjoyments.

The danger, however, was at present sounperceived, that they did not by any means rank as misfortunes with her.Sorrow came-a gentle sorrow-but not at all in the shape of any disagreeableconsciousness.-Miss Taylor married.

It was Miss Taylor's loss which first brought grief.

Itwas on the wedding-day of this beloved friend that Emma first sat in mournful thought ofany continuance.

The wedding over, and the bride-people gone, her father and herself wereleft to dine together, with no prospect of a third to cheer a long evening.

Her fathercomposed himself to sleep after dinner, as usual, and she had then only to sit and think ofwhat she had lost.